Islamabad: In Pakistan, there was a lot of uproar in the National Assembly over a bill of the previous Imran Khan government to send those criticizing the army to jail. Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on the Interior on Wednesday passed a new criminal law amendment bill. According to this, critics of the Pakistan Armed Forces can now face a jail term of two years as well as a fine of up to Rs 500,000. Pakistani MP Mohsin Dawar took a dig at this bill and called it intimidating people.
However, the government of Imran Khan’s home state Khyber Pakhtunkhwa itself has voted against the bill. At the same time, other states of Pakistan have not yet expressed their views on this bill. Opposition parties argue that this is against our own institutions. We stand firmly with these institutions of ours. He said that criticism made with good intentions should never be misunderstood. We should avoid scaring people.
Under this Criminal Law Amendment Bill, willfully ridicule, insult, and defamation cannot be done against the Armed Forces of Pakistan and any of their personnel. Those doing so can be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with a fine up to Rs 500,000, or with both, under Section 500A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). In addition, critics of the Pakistani armed forces will face trial in a civil court.
Instructions to Pak officials to stay away from politics
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has asked the country’s commanders and other key officers, including those associated with the ISI, to stay away from politics and avoid talks with politicians. According to the report of The News International newspaper, these instructions have been given after reports that Pakistan’s military establishment is involved in attempts to manipulate the upcoming by-elections in Punjab.
